Competition categories and rules

The contestants can participate in the contest with a miniature they have painted. The miniature can be anything as long as it counts as a miniature and follows the restrictions of the category in which it is submitted. Person, animal, tank or fantasy creature, anything goes. 

Each category can be entered with one entry. The best entry in each category will be awarded. In addition to these, people’s choice, best theme-inspired work and the best work in the entire contest will be awarded. You are allowed to enter the competition with older works, except for works that have already won any of the Ropecon painting competitions in previous years.

2023 Contest Categories

Category 1: small miniature

All miniatures with a height of up to 54 mm measured from the lowest to the highest point of the miniature’s body. The miniature may have a mount/small vehicle and/or small decorative miniatures (e.g. animals, robots, familiars, ghosts, etc.) as long as the miniature itself is in the focus.

• Examples of acceptable miniatures: most D&D adventure characters, most of the Infinity and Warhammer infantry

Category 2: large miniature

All miniatures with a height of over 54 mm. Otherwise the rules are the same as with small miniatures, i.e. a mount/vehicle and small decorative miniatures are allowed.

• Examples of acceptable miniatures: big dragons, Ghazghkull (8th ed.), tanks, various giant creatures, miniatures of a larger scale

Category 3: group

A cohesive group of three to ten (3-10) miniatures.

• Examples of allowed groups: Kill Team, fantasy football teams, board game miniatures, RPG player character miniatures

Category 4: diorama

Works that center around storytelling, atmosphere and interaction between characters. The size is not limited, but the judges have to be able to move the work around safely. 

• Examples of allowed dioramas: duels, scenes, framed dioramas

Category 5: bust

Busts in 1:8 scale or smaller.

• Examples of allowed busts: busts from Spiramirabilis and FeR miniatures

Category 6: speed paint

Miniature that befits the small miniature category and is painted within the time limit. One cannot submit their work for this category in advance as the painting will take place in a separate workshop during Ropecon. The details of this competition section will be announced separately later on.

Category 7: beginner

First time in Ropecon painting contest? This separate category is open for anyone who is taking part in the painting competition for the first time or otherwise considers themselves as a beginner in this field. Any single small or large miniature is allowed, as long as it is the centerpiece of the work. Mounts, vehicles and small decorative miniatures such as butterflies are allowed.

Category 8: junior

All under 16 year olds can participate in this separate category. One can bring any single small or large miniature to this category. The miniature itself has to be the centerpiece of the work. Mounts, vehicles and small decorative miniatures such as butterflies are allowed.

Additional Prizes

Best Theme-Inspired Work

In addition to the categories listed above one can also sign their work up for the additional category for this year’s theme-inspired works. This year’s theme is Past and Future, and the work that best embodies this theme will be awarded.

People’s Choice

Audience can award their favorite work by voting.

Best in Show

In addition to all the categories listed above the best work of the entire contest will be awarded.

Judges

Ropecon miniature painting contest will also this year have judges who evaluate the contest works. The judges will select the winners with mutual decision based on critical visual inspection and discussion. Each submitted contest work will be judged as an entity, so mastering only one area of the workpiece does not guarantee a victory. Any specific painting style is not expected or consciously preferred. The judging can never be fully objective in and of itself, but the judges will do their best to evaluate the contest works from as many points of view as possible, striving to disregard their own preferences.

The judges will at the very least take the following details into consideration:

• Smoothness and technique of the painting style: each part of the work has been painted meticulously from every side and there is no texture visible in disturbing amounts in the layers of the paint itself. There is no noticeable carelessness in various painted sections’ outlines in the miniature.
• Meticulous miniature and base assembly: The paintwork has been prepared with care. Traces of mold lines and printing supports among other surface defects that do not belong to the miniature or the base in and of itself are not visible. Possible conversions have been made in high quality, so that it is difficult to distinguish them from the original miniature.
• Arrangement and composition of elements: the arrangement of the physical parts of the work have clear purpose, and thought has been put into them. The miniature and the elements of the base function as a clear entity and compliment each other, guiding the viewer’s eyes to the centerpiece of the work.  
• Artistic expression, storytelling, originality: the colors of the work are harmonious and further help to convey a distinct theme, emotion or story. Thought has clearly been put into the choice and composition of colors and it supports the entity of the work together with the miniature and other parts of the base. The work one way or another conveys a new or otherwise original idea.

Lastly

If you are not sure which category the miniature you have chosen belongs to, you can contact us by e-mail at figupelit@ropecon.fi. The judges can rule to move an entry to another category if it is considered that it has been submitted to the wrong one. 

Note! Although Ropecon’s volunteers strive to treat the miniatures with care, Ropecon is not responsible for any possible damage occurring to the miniatures or stolen contest entries. By entering the contest, the contestants agree that the work will remain in the open space for the night.